U.S. scientists have innovatively improved ethanol’s cellulose conversion by using a supercomputer! With its help, the scientists have produced ‘virtual molecules’ by conducting molecular simulations. This new method gives a break to the expensive and sluggish rate of breaking down of the cellulose enzyme complex, which stays bound tightly. This is then, fermented into ethanol.
With the help of this ‘virtual molecules’ method, the scientists have managed key steps in the process, which helps enzyme acts as a molecular machine.
Optimistic with the discovery, Mike Cleary, a member of the research team said,
By learning how the cellulase enzyme complex breaks down cellulose, we can develop protein engineering strategies to speed up this key reaction.
The scientists had to run the simulations for some 6 million time stepping over 12 nanoseconds to accurately understand the key molecular events. This helped them capture enough of the enzyme’s motion and shape changes as it interacted with the cellulose surface.
Hope, this new method will help produce ethanol from cellulose both faster and cheaper.
Photo Credit: treehugger
